Wave antenna wireless communication device and method

ABSTRACT

A wireless communication device coupled to a wave antenna that provides greater increased durability and impedance matching. The wave antenna is a conductor that is bent in alternating sections to form peaks and valleys. The wireless communication device is coupled to the wave antenna to provide wireless communication with other communication devices, such as an interrogation reader. The wireless communication device and wave antenna may be placed on objects, goods, or other articles of manufacture that are subject to forces such that the wave antenna may be stretched or compressed during the manufacture and/or use of such object, good or article of manufacture. The wave antenna, because of its bent structure, is capable of stretching and compressing more easily than other structures, reducing the wireless communication device&#39;s susceptibility to damage or breaks that might render the wireless communication device coupled to the wave antenna unable to properly communicate information wirelessly.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a wave antenna coupled to a wirelesscommunication device so that the wireless communication device canwirelessly communicate information.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wireless communication devices are commonly used today to wirelesslycommunicate information about goods. For example, transponders may beattached to goods during their manufacture, transport and/ordistribution to provide information, such as the good's identificationnumber, expiration date, date of manufacture or “bom on” date, lotnumber, and the like. The transponder allows this information to beobtained unobtrusively using wireless communication without slowing downthe manufacturing, transportation, and/or distribution process.

Some goods involve environmental factors that are critical to theirmanufacture and/or intended operation. An example of such a good is avehicle tire. It may be desirable to place a wireless communicationdevice in a tire so that information regarding the tire, such as atire's identification, pressure, temperature, and other environmentalinformation, can be wirelessly communicated to an interrogation readerduring the tire's manufacture and/or use.

Tire pressure monitoring may be particularly important since thepressure in a tire governs its proper operation and safety in use. Forexample, too little pressure in a tire during its use can cause a tireto be damaged by the weight of a vehicle supported by the tire. Too muchpressure can cause a tire to rupture. Tire pressure must be testedduring the manufacturing process to ensure that the tire meets intendeddesign specifications. The tire pressure should also be within a certainpressure limits during use in order to avoid dangerous conditions.Knowledge of the tire pressure during the operation of a vehicle can beused to inform an operator and/or vehicle system that a tire has adangerous pressure condition. The vehicle may indicate a pressurecondition by generating an alarm or warning signal to the operator ofthe vehicle.

During the manufacturing process of a tire, the rubber materialcomprising the vehicle tire is violently stretched during itsmanufacture before taking final shape. Wireless communication devicesplaced inside tires during their manufacture must be able to withstandthis stretching and compression and still be able to operate properlyafter the completion of the tire's manufacture. Since wirelesscommunication devices are typically radio-frequency communicationdevices, an antenna must be coupled to the wireless communication devicefor communication. This antenna and wireless communication devicecombination may be placed in the inside of the tire along its inner wallor inside the rubber of tire for example. This results in stretching andcompression of the wireless communication device and antenna wheneverthe tire is stretched and compressed. Often, the antenna is stretchedand subsequently damaged or broken thereby either disconnecting thewireless communication device from an antenna or changing the length ofthe antenna, which changes the operating frequency of the antenna. Ineither case, the wireless communication device may be unable tocommunicate properly when the antenna is damaged or broken.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an antennafor a wireless communication device that can withstand a force, such asstretching or compression, and not be susceptible to damage or a break.In this manner, a high level of operability can be achieved withwireless communication devices coupled to antennas for applicationswhere a force is placed on the antenna.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a wave antenna that is coupled to awireless communication device, such as a transponder, to wirelesslycommunicate information. The wave antenna is formed through a series ofalternating bends in a substantially straight conductor, such as a wire,to form at least two different sections wherein at least one section ofthe conductor is bent at an angle of less than 180 degrees with respectto the other. A wave antenna is capable of stretching when subjected toa force without being damaged. A wave antenna can also provide improvedimpedance matching capability between the antenna and a wirelesscommunication device because of the reactive interaction betweendifferent sections of the antenna conductor. In general, varying thecharacteristics of the conductor wire of the wave antenna, such asdiameter, the angle of the bends, the lengths of the sections formed bythe bends, and the type of conductor wire, will modify the crosscoupling and, hence, the impedance of the wave antenna.

In a first wave antenna embodiment, a wireless communication device iscoupled to a single conductor wave antenna to form a monopole waveantenna.

In a second wave antenna embodiment, a wireless communication device iscoupled to two conductor wave antennas to form a dipole wave antenna.

In a third wave antenna embodiment, a dipole wave antenna is comprisedout of conductors having different sections having different lengths.The first section is coupled to the wireless communication device andforms a first antenna having a first operating frequency. The secondsection is coupled to the first section and forms a second antennahaving a second operating frequency. The wireless communication deviceis capable of communicating at each of these two frequencies formed bythe first antenna and the second antenna.

In a fourth wave antenna embodiment, a resonating conductor isadditionally coupled to the wireless communication device to provide asecond antenna operating at a second operating frequency. The resonatingring may also act as a stress relief for force placed on the waveantenna so that such force is not placed on the wireless communicationdevice.

In another embodiment, the wireless communication device is coupled to awave antenna and is placed inside a tire so that information can bewirelessly communicated from the tire to an interrogation reader. Thewave antenna is capable of stretching and compressing, without beingdamged, as the tire is stretched and compressed during its manufactureand pressurization during use on a vehicle.

In another embodiment, the interrogation reader determines the pressureinside a tire by the response from a wireless communication devicecoupled to a wave antenna placed inside the tire. When the tire and,therefore, the wave antenna stretch to a certain length indicative thatthe tire is at a certain threshold pressure, the length of the antennawill be at the operating frequency of the interrogation reader so thatthe wireless communication device is capable of responding to theinterrogation reader.

In another embodiment, a method of manufacture is disclosed on onemethod of manufacturing the wave antenna out of a straight conductor andattaching wireless communication devices to the wave antenna. The uncutstring of wireless communication devices and wave antennas form onecontinuous strip that can be wound on a reel and later unwound, cut andapplied to a good, object, or article of manufacture.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate the scope of the presentinvention and realize additional aspects thereof after reading thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiments inassociation with the accompanying drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawing figures incorporated in and forming a part ofthis specification illustrate several aspects of the invention, andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an interrogation reader and wirelesscommunication device system that may be used with the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram of a monopole wave antenna coupled to awireless communication device for wireless communications;

FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram of a dipole wave antenna coupled to awireless communication device for wireless communications;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a dipole wave antenna coupled to awireless communication device wherein a first portion of the waveantenna operates at a first frequency and a second portion of the waveantenna coupled to the first portion operates at a second frequency;

FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram of a wave antenna and a ring resonatorboth coupled to a wireless communication device wherein the wave antennaoperates at a first frequency and the ring resonator operates at asecond frequency;

FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram of the wave antenna and a ring resonatoras illustrated in FIG. 4A, except that the ring resonator isadditionally mechanically coupled to the wave antenna as a mechanicalstress relief;

FIG. 4C is a schematic diagram of an alternative embodiment to FIG. 4B;

FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a wave antennaand wireless communication device;

FIG. 5B is a schematic diagram of a compressed version of the waveantenna illustrated in FIG. 5A;

FIG. 6A is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication device andwave antenna attached to the inside of a tire for wireless communicationof information about the tire;

FIG. 6B is a schematic diagram of FIG. 6A, except that the tire is underpressure and is stretching the wave antenna;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart diagram of a tire pressure detection systemexecuted by an interrogation reader by communicating with a wirelesscommunication device coupled to a wave antenna inside a tire like thatillustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a reporting system for informationwirelessly communicated from a tire to an interrogation reader;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a process of manufacturing a waveantenna and coupling the wave antenna to a wireless communicationdevice; and

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of an inductance tuning short provided bythe manufacturing process illustrated in FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to a wave antenna that is coupled to awireless communication device, such as a transponder, to wirelesslycommunicate information. The wave antenna is formed through a series ofalternating bends in a substantially straight conductor, such as a wire,to form at least two different sections wherein at least one section ofthe conductor is bent at an angle of less than 180 degrees with respectto each other. A wave antenna is capable of stretching without beingdamaged when subjected to a force. A wave antenna can also provideimproved impedance matching capability between the antenna and awireless communication device because of the reactive interactionbetween different sections of the antenna conductor. In general, varyingthe characteristics of the conductor wire of the wave antenna, such asdiameter, the angle of the bends, the lengths of the sections formed bythe bends, and the type of conductor wire, will modify the crosscoupling and, hence, the impedance of the wave antenna.

Before discussing the particular aspects and applications of the waveantenna as illustrated in FIGS. 2-10 of this application, a wirelesscommunication system that may be used with the present invention isdiscussed below.

FIG. 1 illustrates a wireless communication device and communicationsystem that may be used with the present invention. The wirelesscommunication device 10 is capable of communicating informationwirelessly and may include a control system 12, communicationelectronics 14, and memory 16. The wireless communication device 10 mayalso be known as a radio-frequency identification device (RFID). Thecommunication electronics 14 is coupled to an antenna 17 for wirelesslycommunicating information in radio-frequency signals. The communicationelectronics 14 is capable of receiving modulated radio-frequency signalsthrough the antenna 17 and demodulating these signals into informationpassed to the control system 12. The antenna 17 may be any type ofantenna, including but not limited to a pole or slot antenna. Theantenna 17 may be internal or external to the wireless communicationdevice 10.

The control system 12 may be any type of circuitry or processor thatreceives and processes information received by the communicationelectronics 14, including a micro-controller or microprocessor. Thewireless communication device 10 may also contain a memory 16 forstorage of information. Such information may be any type of informationabout goods, objects, or articles of manufacture, including but notlimited to identification, tracking, environmental information, such aspressure and temperature, and other pertinent information. The memory 16may be electronic memory, such as random access memory (RAM), read-onlymemory (ROM), flash memory, diode, etc., or the memory 16 may bemechanical memory, such as a switch, dipswitch, etc.

The control system 12 may also be coupled to sensors that senseenvironmental information concerning the wireless communication device10. For instance, the control system 12 may be coupled to a pressuresensor 18 to sense the pressure on the wireless communication device 10and/or its surroundings. The control system 12 may also be coupled to atemperature sensor 19 to sense the temperature of the wirelesscommunication device 10 or the ambient temperature around the wirelesscommunication device 10. More information on different types of pressuresensors 18 that can be used to couple to the control system aredisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,299,349 and 6,272,936, entitled “Pressureand temperature sensor” and “Pressure sensor,” respectively, both ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

The temperature sensor 19 may be contained within the wirelesscommunication device 10, or external to the wireless communicationdevice 10. The temperature sensor 19 may be any variety of temperaturesensing elements, such as a thermistor or chemical device. One suchtemperature sensor 19 is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,959,524, entitled“Temperature sensor,” incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.The temperature sensor 19 may also be incorporated into the wirelesscommunication device 10 or its control system 12, like that described inU.S. Pat. No. 5,961,215, entitled “Temperature sensor integral withmicroprocessor and methods of using same,” incorporated herein byreference in its entirety. However, note that the present invention isnot limited to any particular type of temperature sensor 19.

Some wireless communication devices 10 are termed “active” devices inthat they receive and transmit data using their own energy sourcecoupled to the wireless communication device 10. A wirelesscommunication device 10 may use a battery for power as described in U.S.Pat. No. 6,130,602 entitled “Radio frequency data communicationsdevice,” or may use other forms of energy, such as a capacitor asdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,603, entitled “Implantable biosensingtransponder.” Both of the preceding patents are incorporated herein byreference in their entirety.

Other wireless communication devices 10 are termed “passive” devicesmeaning that they do not actively transmit and therefore may not includetheir own energy source for power. One type of passive wirelesscommunication device 10 is known as a “transponder.” A transpondereffectively transmits information by reflecting back a received signalfrom an external communication device, such as an interrogation reader.An example of a transponder is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,280,entitled “Frequency diversity transponder arrangement,” incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety. Another example of a transponder isdescribed in co-pending patent application Ser. No. 09/678,271, entitled“Wireless communication device and method,” incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

FIG. 1 depicts communication between a wireless communication device 10and an interrogation reader 20. The interrogation reader 20 may includea control system 22, an interrogation communication electronics 24,memory 26, and an interrogation antenna 28. The interrogation antenna 28may be any type of antenna, including a pole antenna or a slot antenna.The interrogation reader 20 may also contain its own internal energysource 30, or the interrogation reader 20 may be powered through anexternal power source. The energy source 30 may include batteries, acapacitor, solar cell or other medium that contains energy. The energysource 30 may also be rechargeable. A timer 23 may also be coupled tothe control system 22 for performing tasks that require timingoperations.

The interrogation reader 20 communicates with the wireless communicationdevice 10 by emitting an electronic signal 32 modulated by theinterrogation communication electronics 24 through the interrogationantenna 28. The interrogation antenna 28 may be any type of antenna thatcan radiate a signal 32 through a field 34 so that a reception device,such as a wireless communication device 10, can receive such signal 32through its own antenna 17. The field 34 may be electro-magnetic,magnetic, or electric. The signal 32 may be a message containinginformation and/or a specific request for the wireless communicationdevice 10 to perform a task or communicate back information. When theantenna 17 is in the presence of the field 34 emitted by theinterrogation reader 20, the communication electronics 14 are energizedby the energy in the signal 32, thereby energizing the wirelesscommunication device 10. The wireless communication device 10 remainsenergized so long as its antenna 17 is in the field 34 of theinterrogation reader 20. The communication electronics 14 demodulatesthe signal 32 and sends the message containing information and/orrequest to the control system 12 for appropriate actions.

It is readily understood to one of ordinary skill in the art that thereare many other types of wireless communications devices andcommunication techniques than those described herein, and the presentinvention is not limited to a particular type of wireless communicationdevice, technique or method.

FIG. 2A illustrates a first embodiment of a wave antenna 17 coupled to awireless communication device 10 for wireless communication. Thisembodiment illustrates a monopole wave antenna 17. The wave antenna 17is formed by a conducting material, such as a wire or foil for example,that is bent in alternating sections to form a series of peaks andvalleys. Any type of material can be used to form the wave antenna 17 solong as the material can conduct electrical energy. A wave antenna 17 inits broadest form is a conductor that is bent in at least one positionat an angle less than 180 degrees to form at least two differentsections 21. The monopole wave antenna 17 in this embodiment containsseven alternating bends to form a saw-tooth wave shape. The monopolewave antenna 17 is coupled, by either a direct or reactive coupling, toan input port (not shown) on the wireless communication device 10 toprovide an antenna 17 for wireless communications. Since the wirelesscommunication device 10 contains another input port that is coupled tothe monopole wave antenna 17, this additional input port is grounded.

A wave antenna 17 may be particularly advantageous to use with awireless communication device 10 in lieu of a straight antenna. Oneadvantage of a wave antenna 17 is that it is tolerant to stretchingwithout substantial risk of damage or breakage to the conductor. Certaintypes of goods, objects, or articles of manufacture may encounter aforce, such as stretching or compression, during their manufactureand/or normal use. If a wireless communication device 10 uses a straightconductor as antenna 17 and is attached to goods, objects, or articlesof manufacture that are subjected to a force during their manufacture oruse, the antenna 17 may be damaged or broken when the good, object orarticle of manufacture is subjected to such force. If the antenna 17 isdamaged or broken, this may cause the wireless communication device 10to be incapable of wireless communication since a change in the lengthor shape of the conductor in the antenna 17 may change the operatingfrequency of the antenna 17.

A wave antenna 17, because of its bent sections 21, also causes thefield emitted by the conductors in sections 21 to capacitively couple toother sections 21 of the wave antenna 17. This results in improvedimpedance matching with the wireless communication device 10 to providegreater and more efficient energy transfer between the wirelesscommunication device 10 and the wave antenna 17. As is well known to oneof ordinary skill in the art, the most efficient energy transfer occursbetween a wireless communication device 10 and an antenna 17 when theimpedance of the antenna 17 is the complex conjugate of the impedance ofthe wireless communication device 10.

The impedance of a straight conductor antenna 17 is dependant on thetype, size, and shape of the conductor. The length of the antenna 17 isthe primary variable that determines the operating frequency of theantenna 17. Unlike a straight conductor antenna 17, a wave antenna 17can also be varied in other ways not possible in a straight conductorantenna 17. In a wave antenna 17, other variables exist in the design ofthe antenna in addition to the type, size, shape and length of theconductor. The impedance of a wave antenna 17 can also be varied byvarying the length of the individual sections 21 of the conductor makingup the wave antenna 17 and the angle between these individual sections21 in addition to the traditional variables available in straightconductor antennas 17. These additional variables available in waveantennas 17 can be varied while maintaining the overall length of theconductor so that the operating frequency of the wave antenna 17 ismaintained. In this embodiment, the lengths of the individual sections21 and the angles between the individual sections 21 are the same;however, they do not have to be.

In summary, a wave antenna 17 provides the ability to alter and selectadditional variables not possible in straight conductor antennas 17 thataffect the impedance of the antenna 17, thereby creating a greaterlikelihood that a wave antenna's 17 impedance can be designed to moreclosely match the impedance of the wireless communication device 10. Ofcourse, as is well known by one of ordinary skill in the art, the typeof materials attached to the wave antenna 17 and the material'sdielectric properties also vary the impedance and operating frequency ofthe wave antenna 17. These additional variables should also be takeninto account in the final design of the wave antenna 17. The reactivecross-coupling that occurs between different sections 21 of the waveantenna 17 also contribute to greater impedance matching capability ofthe wave antenna 17 to a wireless communication device 10. Moreinformation on impedance matching between a wireless communicationdevice 10 and an antenna 17 for efficient transfer of energy isdisclosed in United States pending patent application Ser. No.09/536,334, entitled “Remote communication using slot antenna,”incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIG. 2B illustrates a wave antenna 17 similar to that illustrated inFIG. 2A; however, the wave antenna in FIG. 2B is a dipole wave antenna17. Two conductors 17A, 17B are coupled to the wireless communicationdevice 10 to provide wireless communications. In this embodiment, thelength of the conductors 17A, 17B that form the dipole wave antenna 17are each 84 millimeters in length. The dipole wave antenna 17 operatesat a frequency of 915 MHz. In this embodiment, the lengths of theindividual sections 21 and the angles between the individual sections 21that make up the dipole wave antenna 17 are the same; however, they donot have to be.

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of a wave antenna 17 where thelengths of the individual sections 21 and the angle between theindividual sections 21 are not the same. Two conductors are coupled tothe wireless communication device 10 to create a dipole wave antenna 17.The first conductor is comprised out of two sections 21A, 21C, eachhaving a different number of sections 21 and lengths. The two sections21A, 21C are also symmetrically contained in the second conductor 21B,21D. This causes the wave antenna 17 to act as a dipole antenna thatresonates and receives signals at two different operating frequencies sothat the wireless communication device 10 is capable of communicating attwo different frequencies.

The first symmetrical sections 21A, 21B are 30.6 millimeters or λ/4 inlength and are coupled to the wireless communication device 10 so thatthe wave antenna 17 is capable of receiving 2.45 GHz signals. The secondsymmetrical sections 21C, 21D are coupled to the first sections 21A,21B, respectively, to form a second dipole antenna for receiving signalsat a second frequency. In this embodiment, the second sections 21C, 21Dare 70 millimeters in length and are coupled to the first sections 21A,21B, respectively, to form lengths that are designed to receive 915 MHzsignals. Also note that bends in the conductor in the wave antenna 17are not constant. The bends in the wave antenna 17 that are made upwardare made at an angle of less than 180 degrees. The bends in the waveantenna 17 that are made downward are made at an angle of 180 degrees.

Note that it is permissible for bends in sections 21 of the conductor tobe 180 degrees so long as all of the sections 21 in the conductor arenot bent at 180 degrees with respect to adjacent sections 21. If all ofthe sections 21 in the conductor are bent at 180 degrees, then theconductor will effectively be a straight conductor antenna 17 and not awave antenna 17.

FIG. 4A illustrates another embodiment of the wave antenna 17 coupled tothe wireless communication device 10 wherein the wireless communicationdevice 10 is configured to receive signals at two different frequencies.A wave antenna 17 similar the wave antenna 17 illustrated in FIG. 2B iscoupled to the wireless communication device 10 to form a dipole waveantenna 17. A resonating ring 40 is also capacitively coupled to thewireless communication device 10 to provide a second antenna 17 thatoperates at a second and different frequency from the operatingfrequency of the dipole wave antenna 17. The resonating ring 40 may beconstructed out of any type of material so long as the material isconductive.

This embodiment may be particularly advantageous if it is necessary forthe wireless communication device 10 to be capable of wirelesslycommunicating regardless of the force, such as stretching orcompression, exerted on the wave antenna 17. The resonating ring 40 isdesigned to remain in its original shape regardless of the applicationof any force that may be placed on the wireless communication device 10or a good, object, or article of manufacture that contains the wirelesscommunication device 10. Depending on the force exerted on the waveantenna 17 or a good, object or article of manufacture that contains thewave antenna 17 and wireless communication device 10, the length of thewave antenna 17 may change, thereby changing the operating frequency ofthe wave antenna 17. The new operating frequency of the wave antenna 17may be sufficiently different from the normal operating frequency suchthat wave antenna 17 and the wireless communication device 10 could notreceive and/or demodulate signals sent by the interrogation reader 20.The resonating ring 40 is capable of receiving signals 32 regardless ofthe state of the wave antenna 17.

FIG. 4B also illustrates an embodiment of the present inventionemploying a dipole wave antenna 17 that operates at 915 MHz and aresonating ring 40 that operates at 2.45 GHz. The dipole wave antenna 17and the resonating ring 40 are both coupled to the wirelesscommunication device 10 to allow the wireless communication device 10 tooperate at two different frequencies. However, in this embodiment, theconductors of the dipole wave antenna 17 are looped around theresonating ring 40 at a first inductive turn 42A and a second inductiveturn 42B. In this manner, any force placed on the dipole wave antenna 17will place such force on the resonating ring 40 instead of the wirelesscommunication device 10.

This embodiment may be advantageous in cases where a force, placed onthe dipole wave antenna 17 without providing a relief mechanism otherthan the wireless communication device 10 itself would possibly causethe dipole wave antenna 17 to disconnect from the wireless communicationdevice 10, thus causing the wireless communication device 10 to beunable to wirelessly communicate. The resonating ring 40 may beconstructed out of a stronger material than the connecting point betweenthe dipole wave antenna 17 and the wireless communication device 10,thereby providing the ability to absorb any force placed on the dipolewave antenna 17 without damaging the resonating ring 40. This embodimentmay also be particularly advantageous if the wireless communicationdevice 10 is placed on a good, object or article of manufacture thatundergoes force during its manufacture or use, such as a rubber tire,for example.

FIG. 4C illustrates another embodiment similar to those illustrated inFIGS. 4A and 4B. However, the resonating ring 40 is directly coupled tothe wireless communication device 10, and the dipole wave antenna 17 isdirectly coupled to the resonating ring 10. A first and secondconducting attachments 44A, 44B are used to couple the resonating ring40 to the wireless communication device 10. A force exerted on thedipole wave antenna 17 is exerted on and absorbed by the resonating ring40 rather than wireless communication device 10 so that the wirelesscommunication device 10 is not damaged.

FIG. 5A illustrates another embodiment of the wave antenna 17 that isstretched wherein the bending are at angles close to 180 degrees, butslightly less, to form sections 21 close to each other. The couplingbetween the individual elements in the wave antenna 17 will be strongdue to the proximity. Therefore, a small change in stretching of thewave antenna 17 will have a large effect on the operating frequency ofthe wave antenna 17. Since the change in the operating frequency will begreat, it will be easier for a small stretching of the wave antenna 17to change the operating frequency of the wave antenna 17.

FIG. 5B illustrates the same wave antenna 17 and wireless communicationdevice 10 illustrated in FIG. 5A; however, the wave antenna 17 is notbeing stretched. When this wave antenna 17 is not being stretched, thebent sections in the wave antenna 17 touch each other to effectively actas a regular dipole antenna without angled sections 21. If thisembodiment, each pole 17A, 17B of the wave antenna 17 in its normal formis 30.6 millimeters long and has an operating frequency of 2.45 GHz suchthat the wireless communication device 10 is capable of responding to afrequency of 2.45 GHz

FIG. 6A illustrates one type of article of manufacture that undergoesforce during its manufacture and use and that may include a wirelesscommunication device 10 and wave antenna 17 like that illustrated inFIGS. 5A and 5B. This embodiment includes a rubber tire 50 well known inthe prior art that is used on transportation vehicles. The tire 50 isdesigned to be pressurized with air when placed inside a tire 50 mountedon a vehicle wheel forming a seal between the wheel and the tire 50. Thetire 50 is comprised of a tread surface 52 that has a certain definedthickness 53. The tread surface 52 has a left outer side 54, a rightouter side 56 and an orifice 58 in the center where the tire 50 isdesigned to fit on a wheel. The left outer side 54 and right outer side56 are bent downward at angles substantially perpendicular to the planeof the tread surface 52 to form a left outer wall 60 and a right outerwall 62. When the left outer wall 60 and right outer wall 62 are formed,a left inner wall 64 and a right inner wall 66 are also formed as well.Additionally, depending on the type of tire 50, a steel belt 68 may alsobe included inside the rubber of the tire 50 under the surface of thetread surface 52 for increase performance and life. More information onthe construction and design of a typical tire 50 is disclosed in U.S.Pat. No. 5,554,242, entitled “Method for making a multi-component tire,”incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

In this embodiment, a wireless communication device 10 and dipole waveantenna 17 are attached on the inner surface of the tire 50 on the otherside of the tread surface 52. During the manufacturing of a tire 50, therubber in the tire 50 undergoes a lamination process whereby the tire 50may be stretched up to approximately 1.6 times its normal size and thenshrunk back down to the normal dimensions of a wheel. If a wirelesscommunication device 10 is placed inside the tire 50 during themanufacturing process, the wireless communication device 10 and antenna17 must be able to withstand the stretching and shrinking that a tire 50undergoes without being damaged. The wave antenna 17 of the presentinvention is particularly suited for this application since the waveantenna 17 can stretch and compress without damaging the conductor ofthe wave antenna 17.

Also, a tire 50 is inflated with gas, such as air, to a pressure duringits normal operation. If the wireless communication device 10 andantenna 17 are placed inside the tread surface 52 or inside the tire 50,the wireless communication device 10 and antenna 17 will stretch andcompress depending on the pressure level in the tire 50. The morepressure contained in the tire 50, the more the tire 50 will stretch.Therefore, any wireless communication device 10 and antenna 17 that iscontained inside the tire 50 or inside the rubber of the tire 50 must beable to withstand this stretching without being damaged and/or affectingthe proper operation of the wireless communication device 10.

FIG. 6B illustrates the same tire illustrated in FIG. 6A. However, inthis embodiment, the tire 50 is under a pressure and has stretched thedipole wave antenna 17. Because the dipole wave antenna 17 is capable ofstretching without being damaged or broken, the dipole wave antenna 17is not damaged and does not break when the tire 50 is stretched whensubjected to a pressure. Note that the wave antenna 17 placed inside thetire 50 could also be a monopole wave antenna 17, as illustrated in FIG.2A, or any other variation of the wave antenna 17, including the waveantennas 17 illustrated in FIGS. 2B, 3, 4A-4C, 5A, and 5B. Also, notethat the wireless communication device 10 and wave antenna 17 could beprovided anywhere on the inside of the tire 50, including inside thethickness 53 of the tread surface 52, the left inner wall 64 or theright inner wall 66.

FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart process wherein the interrogation reader20 is designed to communicate with the wireless communication device 10and wave antenna 17 to determine when the pressure of the tire 50 hasreached a certain designed threshold pressure. Because a wave antenna 17changes length based on the force exerted on its conductors, a waveantenna 17 will stretch if placed inside a tire 50 as the pressureinside the tire 50 rises. The wave antenna 17 can be designed so thatthe length of the wave antenna 17 only reaches a certain designed lengthto be capable of receiving signals at the operating frequency of theinterrogation reader 20 when the tire 50 reaches a certain thresholdpressure.

The process starts (block 70), and the interrogation reader 20 emits asignal 32 through the field 34 as discussed previously for operation ofthe interrogation reader 20 and wireless communication device 10illustrated in FIG. 1. The interrogation reader 20 checks to see if aresponse signal has been received from the wireless communication device10 (decision 74). If no response signal is received by the interrogationreader 20 from the wireless communication device 10, the interrogationreader 20 continues to emit the signal 34 in a looping fashion (block72) until a response is received. Once a response is received by theinterrogation reader 20 from the wireless communication device 10(decision 74), this is indicative of the fact that the wave antenna 17coupled to the wireless communication device 10 has stretched to acertain length so that the wave antenna's 17 operating frequency iscompatible with the operating frequency of the interrogation reader 20(block 76). The interrogation reader 20 can report that the tire 50containing the wireless communication device 10 and wave antenna 17 hasreached a certain threshold pressure. Note that the wave antennas 17 maybe any of the wave antennas 17 illustrated in FIGS. 2B, 3, 4A-4C, 5A,and 5B.

FIG. 8 illustrates one embodiment of a reporting system that may beprovided for the interrogation reader 20. The interrogation reader 20may be coupled to a reporting system 77. This reporting system 77 may belocated in close proximity to the interrogation reader 20, and may becoupled to the interrogation reader 20 by either a wired or wirelessconnection. The reporting system 77 may be a user interface or othercomputer system that is capable of receiving and/or storing datacommunications received from an interrogation reader 20. Thisinformation may be any type of information received from a wirelesscommunication device 10, including but not limited to identificationinformation, tracking information, and/or environmental informationconcerning the wireless communication device 10 and/or its surroundings,such as pressure and temperature. The information may be used for anypurpose. For example, identification, tracking, force and/or pressureinformation concerning a tire 50 during its manufacture may becommunicated to the reporting system 77 which may then be used fortracking, quality control, and supply-chain management. If theinformation received by the reporting system is not normal or proper,the reporting system 77 may control the manufacturing operations to stopand/or change processes during manufacture and/or alert personnel incharge of the manufacturing process.

The reporting system 77 may also communicate information received fromthe wireless communication device 10, via the interrogation reader 20,to a remote system 78 located remotely from the reporting system 77and/or the interrogation reader 20. The communication between thereporting system 77 and the remote system 78 may be through wiredcommunication, wireless communication, modem communication or othernetworking communication, such as the Internet. Alternatively, theinterrogation reader 20 may communicate the information received fromthe wireless communication device 10 directly to the remote system 78rather than first reporting the information through the reporting system77 using the same or similar communication mediums as may be usedbetween the reporting system 77 and the remote system 78.

FIG. 9 illustrates a method of manufacturing a wave antenna 17 andassembly of the wave antenna 17 to wireless communication devices 10.The process involves eight total steps. Each of the steps is labeled incircled numbers illustrated in FIG. 9. The first step of the processinvolves passing an antenna 17 conductor wire or foil through cogs 120to create the alternating bends in the antenna conductor 17 to form thewave antenna 17. The cogs 120 are comprised of a top cog 120A and abottom cog 120B. The top cog 120A rotates clockwise, and the bottom cog120B rotates counterclockwise. Each cog 120A, 120B includes teeth thatinterlock with each other as the cogs 120A, 120B rotate. As the antennaconductor 17 passes through the cogs 120A, 120B, alternating bends areplaced in the antenna conductor 17 to form peaks 121 and valleys 122 inthe antenna conductor 17 to form the wave antenna 17.

The second step of the process involves placing tin solder on portionsof the wave antenna 17 so that a wireless communication device 10 can besoldered and attached to the wave antenna 17 in a later step. Asoldering station 123 is provided and is comprised of a first tinningposition 123A and a second tinning position 123B. For every predefinedportion of the wave antenna 17 that passes by the soldering station 123,the first tinning position 123A and second tinning position 123B raiseupward to place tin solder on the left side of the peak 124A and anadjacent right side of the peak 124A so that the wireless communicationdevice 10 can be soldered to the wave antenna 17 in the third step ofthe process. Please note that the process may also use glue instead ofsolder to attach the wireless communication device 10 to the waveantenna 17.

The third step of the process involves attaching a wirelesscommunication device 10 to the wave antenna 17. A wireless communicationdevice is attached to the left side of the peak 124A and the right sideof the peak 124B at the points of the tin solder. An adhesive 126 isused to attach the leads or pins (not shown) of the wirelesscommunication device 10 to the tin solder, and solder paste is added tothe points where the wireless communication device 10 attach to the tinsolder on the wave antenna 17 to conductively attach the wirelesscommunication device 10 to the wave antenna 17. Note that when thewireless communication device 10 is attached to the wave antenna 17, thepeak remains on the wireless communication device 10 that causes a short128 between the two input ports (not shown) of the wirelesscommunication device 10 and the two wave antennas 17 coupled to thewireless communication device 10.

The fourth step in the process involves passing the wirelesscommunication device 10 as connected to the wave antenna 17 through ahot gas re-flow soldering process well known to one of ordinary skill inthe art to securely attach the solder between the leads of the wirelesscommunication device 10 and the wave antenna 17.

The fifth step in the process involves the well-known process ofcleaning away any excess solder that is unused and left over during theprevious soldering.

The sixth step in the process involves removing the short 128 betweenthe two wave antennas 17 left by the peak 124 of the wave antenna 17from the third step in the process. Depending on the type of wirelesscommunication device 10 and its design, the short 128 may or may notcause the wireless communication device 10 to not properly operate toreceive signals and re-modulate response signals. If the wirelesscommunication device 10 operation is not affected by this short 128,this step can be skipped in the process.

The seventh step in the process involves encapsulating the wirelesscommunication device 10. The wireless communication device 10 istypically in the form of a RF integrated circuit chip that isencapsulated with a hardened, non-conductive material 130, such as aplastic or epoxy, to protect the inside components of the chip from theenvironment.

The eighth and last step involves winding wireless communication devices10 as attached on the wave antenna 17 onto a reel 130. The wirelesscommunication devices 10 and wave antenna 17 are contained on a stripsince the wave antenna 17 conductor has not been yet cut. When it isdesired to apply the wireless communication device 10 and attached waveantenna 17 to a good, object, or article of manufacture, such as a tire50, the wireless communication device 10 and attached wave antenna 17can be unwound from the reel 130 and the wave antenna 17 conductor cutin the middle between two consecutive wireless communication devices 10to form separate wireless communication device 10 and dipole waveantenna 17 devices.

FIG. 10 illustrates the short 128 left on the wireless communicationdevice 10 and wave antenna 17 as a tuning inductance. Some UHF wirelesscommunication devices 10 operate best when a direct current (DC) short,in the form of a tuning inductance, is present across the wirelesscommunication device 10 and therefore the process of removing the short128 can be omitted. FIG. 10 illustrates an alternative embodiment of thewave antenna 17 and wireless communication device 10 where an uneven cog120 has been used in step 1 of the process to produce an extended loopshort 128 across the wireless communication device 10. This gives therequired amount of inductance for best operation of the wirelesscommunication device 10 as the wave antenna 17 and the short 128 are inparallel.

The embodiments set forth above represent the necessary information toenable those skilled in the art to practice the invention and illustratethe best mode of practicing the invention. Upon reading the precedingdescription in light of the accompanying drawing figures, those sidiledin the art will understand the concepts of the invention and willrecognize applications of these concepts not particularly addressedherein. It should be understood that these concepts and applicationsfall within the scope of the disclosure and the accompanying claims.

It should be understood that the present invention is not limited toapplications involving a vehicle tire. It should also be understood thatthe present invention is not limited to any particular type ofcomponent, including but not limited to the wireless communicationdevice 10 and its components, the interrogation reader 20 and itscomponents, the pressure sensor 18, the temperature sensor 19, theresonating ring 40, the tire 50 and its components, the reporting system77, the remote system 78, the wheel 100 and its components, the cogs120, the soldering station 123, the adhesive 124, and the encapsulationmaterial 130. For the purposes of this application, couple, coupled, orcoupling is defined as either a direct connection or a reactivecoupling. Reactive coupling is defined as either capacitive or inductivecoupling.

Those skilled in the art will recognize improvements and modificationsto the preferred embodiments of the present invention. All suchimprovements and modifications are considered within the scope of theconcepts disclosed herein and the claims that follow.

1. A wireless communication device, comprising: a RFID chip; a waveantenna coupled to said RFID chip; said wave antenna comprised of atleast one conductor that is bent in at least one position at an angleless than 180 degrees to form at least two different sections.
 2. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein said wave antenna is comprised from the groupconsisting of a monopole wave antenna and a dipole wave antenna.
 3. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein said at least one conductor is comprised outof two separate conductors that are each bent in at least one positionto form an angle and are each coupled to said RFID chip to form a wavedipole antenna.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least oneconductor is constructed out of a material comprised from the groupconsisting of copper, brass, steel, and zinc-plated steel.
 5. The deviceof claim 1, wherein said at least one conductor is bent in a pluralityof positions to form at least one inflection point and three or moredifferent sections in said at least one conductor.
 6. The device ofclaim 3, wherein said two separate conductors are bent in a plurality ofpositions to form three or more different sections wherein said twoseparate conductors each contain at least one inflection point.
 7. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein said at least one conductor is coated with anon-conductive material.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein said antennais designed to operate at a frequency comprised from the groupconsisting of around about 915 MHz and around about 2.45 GHz.
 9. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein said at least two different sections comprisea first section having a first length to form a first antenna designedto operate at a first operating frequency and a second section having asecond length to form a second antenna designed to operate at a secondoperating frequency.
 10. The device of claim 9, wherein said firstsection is coupled to said RFID chip, and said second section is coupledto said first section.
 11. The device of claim 9, wherein said secondsection is bent into a plurality of subsections each having the samelength to form said second antenna.
 12. The device of claim 9, whereinsaid first section is bent into a plurality of subsections each havingthe same length to form said first antenna.
 13. The device of claim 12,wherein said second section is bent into a plurality of subsections eachhaving the same length to form said second antenna.
 14. The device ofclaim 1, further comprising a resonating ring coupled to said waveantenna wherein said wave antenna operates at a first operatingfrequency and said resonating ring forms a second antenna that operatesat a second operating frequency.
 15. The device of claim 14, whereinsaid resonating ring is capacatively coupled to said wave antenna. 16.The device of claim 14, wherein said resonating ring is additionallycoupled to said RFID chip so that a force placed on said wave antennawill be placed in whole or in part on said resonating ring to relievemechanical stress on said RFID chip.
 17. An apparatus, comprising: awireless communication device coupled to a wave antenna that operates ata first operating frequency comprised of at least one conductor that isbent in at least one position at an angle less than 180 degrees to format least two different sections; and a tire wherein said wirelesscommunication device is mounted to the inside of said tire to detectenvironmental information inside said tire and wirelessly communicatesthe environmental information.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17, whereinsaid environmental information is comprised from the group consisting ofpressure inside said tire and temperature inside said tire.
 19. Theapparatus of claim 17, wherein said tire comprises: an outer surface,comprising: a circular-shaped tread surface having a left outer side anda right outer side and an orifice; and said left outer side and saidright outer side each fold down at an angle substantially perpendicularto said tread surface to form a left outer wall and a right outer wallsubstantially perpendicular to said tread surface and to form a leftinner wall and a right inner wall attached substantially perpendicularto a internal wall on the opposite side of said tread surface; andwherein said wireless communication device is attached to a wall insidesaid tire comprised from the group consisting of said left inner wall,said right inner wall, and said internal wall.
 20. The apparatus ofclaim 17, wherein said wave antenna expands when said tire is placedunder pressure. 21-70. (canceled)